Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Someone Is Making Trouble

Chapter 460: Someone Is Making Trouble

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

In Guangxi Garden, the layout was circular, featuring a small lake in the center and houses around the edges. The central area, empty and ideal for setting up stalls, could accommodate tens of thousands of people, and even more if the surrounding houses were opened..

This was precisely why Chu Qingzhi chose this location for the event

Near the entrance of the garden, a large stage had been set up, immediately visible to anyone entering the garden.

With a stage, there was no need to build another one. After setting it up, it could be used directly, saving a lot of trouble.

Chu Qingzhi flew directly to the stage. She did this on purpose. If you wanted to do something big, you had to show your ability to convince others. Otherwise, no one would listen to you and chaos would ensue. Her martial arts skills were a direct way to prove her capabilities.

As a result, the shopkeepers who followed her into the garden immediately became serious.

No matter when, they all valued people with real capabilities.

Standing on the stage, Chu Qingzhi looked around and began speaking with passion. “Welcome everyone to Guangxi Garden…” she said.

She knew that to encourage people to spend, beautiful language was necessary. With just a few words, she excited everyone, making them believe that participating in the food festival would be profitable.

Tang Jinghong, standing below, watched Chu Qingzhi glow with admiration, unable to shift his gaze away.

Finally, Chu Qingzhi addressed the main agenda, “This afternoon, I have invited you all for one reason – to finalize the stall locations.”

At that moment, more than three hundred shopkeepers were gathered in front of the stage, with others still arriving.

“The locations for setting up the display stands include both sides of the entrance path, the area behind me, and along the lakeside, encircling the entire lake. The better the location, the higher the starting bid. There are a total of three hundred display spots here.

We will start the auction with the best locations. Correspondingly, the better the location, the larger and more prominent the display stand will be, and there will be preferential treatment for these spots.”

A shopkeeper raised his hand. “I have a question.”

“Shopkeeper, please speak.”

“How do we display our products on these stands? I’m a bit confused.”

“May I ask what business you are in?”

“I sell shoes.”

“Wait a moment.” Chu Qingzhi walked down the stage. There was a set of tables and chairs beside her. She sat on the chair and picked up her brush to draw.

The drawings she did were different from the usual ones. She drew colorful chibi-stylc illustrations. They were definitely novel and eye-catching.

She drew all the styles of shoes in this era…

She got up and handed the drawings to the shopkeeper. “Take a look. Do you like it?”

The shopkeeper took the painting and widened his eyes in surprise. “These drawings are so cute!”

The other shopkeepers crowded around, equally impressed by the novel drawing style.

“She can actually draw like this!”

“If I suddenly see this painting, I won’t be able to help but take a few more glances.”

“Young lady, you’re too talented.”

Chu Qingzhi returned to the stage. “If there’s no problem, we’ll start bidding. Now, we’ll bid for the best stands… The starting price for the first two stands is ten taels.”

A shopkeeper raised his hand. “I offer eleven taels.”

“Twelve taels.”

“Thirteen taels.”

“Twenty taels.”

After a brief wait, with no further bids being called, Chu Qingzhi concluded the auction for the first display spot, “Congratulations to this shopkeeper for securing our first display position. Please come here to record your details.”

The information to be recorded included the shopkeeper’s business type, specialties, advantages, and store location, all of which would later be marked on the banner. This task was overseen by Chu Xujin, Ge Lihua, and six others.

Chu Qingzhi then announced, “Let’s continue with the auction for the second display spot…”

At the county office.

Tao Yuansong hurried into the back hall of the county government, his tone tinged with accusation. “Uncle, how could you hand over the food festival to an outsider?”

The county magistrate, pleased with the prospect of adding another accomplishment to his jurisdiction, was interrupted by his unsuccessful nephew. “What? Do I have to report to you whom I assign the food festival to?”

Tao Yuansong immediately stepped back, showing weakness. “Uncle, as your nephew, I should have the right to organize the food festival. Command Chu Qingzhi to hand over the rights to me; I will do a better job.”

The magistrate wanted to help his family, but his nephew’s incompetence made it impossible. “Do you even have a plan for organizing the food festival?”

Tao Yuansong appeared clueless. “What plan? Organizing a food festival is simple. Why bother with a plan?”

The county magistrate was speechless.

It wasn’t that he was helping an outsider, but his nephew couldn’t even compare to a strand of Chu Qingzhi’s hair. He didn’t even know what the proposal was and wanted to hold a food festival.

The magistrate shook his head in disappointment, “You can’t handle it. Just stay home and enjoy the festival.”

Seeing that the county magistrate was looking down on him, Tao Yuansong became competitive. “Uncle, I must hold a food festival.”

The county magistrate said, “What are you going to do?”

Tao Yuansong pleaded, “Uncle, if Chu Qingzhi can do it, why can’t I? Uncle, just let me do it.”

The magistrate stated, “I’ve already given the rights to Chu Qingzhi. If she agrees to give them to you, you can organize it.” Not wanting to offend Chu Qingzhi but still trying to help his nephew, this was his solution.

Tao Yuansong cupped his hands at the county magistrate. “Uncle, I will definitely get Chu Qingzhi to give me the organizing rights.”

The county magistrate waved him away. Out of sight, out of mind.

Tao Yuansong brought a few lackeys to the Guangxia Garden arrogantly.

“Chu Qingzhi, hand over the organizing rights. My uncle has appointed me to manage the food festival,” he bellowed under the stage.

Tang Jinghong and others frowned slightly at the disturbance.

Upon hearing his demands, the crowd withdrew, knowing well the reputation of the magistrate’s nephew as a lazy, privileged troublemaker.

Chu Qingzhi glanced over Tao Yuansong and his group. The absence of county officials indicated this was a personal matter.

“Where would you like to organize it?” she inquired.

Tao Yuansong, believing no one in the county dared to disobey his uncle, arrogantly demanded, “Give me the stage to speak.”

“Then speak,” Chu Qingzhi said, stepping down from the stage and inviting everyone to continue the auction about ten meters away.

She had to settle the auction first before “reasoning” with this troublemaker.

Everyone walked to the other side. About ten meters away, they continued the auction.

The crowd knew Tao Yuansong’s true nature and ignored him, fearing their money would be wasted if they followed his lead.

Only Tao Yuansong and his lackeys were left. The autumn wind blew, and the fallen leaves flew. It was bleak, desolate, and lonely.

Tao Yuansong was stunned for a few seconds before he turned around and roared, “All of you, come here. I’ll hold the food festival now.”

But the crowd thought differently. “He can do his thing, we’ll do ours,” they murmured, not a single person moving towards him..